Tesfaye's Story: A Journey of Hope

This is the story of Tesfaye Negussie Anagaw. Tesfaye,which means "my hope" in Amaharic,at the age of 8 was struck with TB causing his spine to collapse. In 2003, around 13 years old,Tesfaye left his village in Gojaam Ethiopia on a journey of hope to cure his back. Through getting to know Dr. Rick Hodes I learned of Tesfaye's story one night in Addis Ababa in March 2008,and after a long process Tesfaye arrived in Vancouver on May 20,2009 for surgery to straighten his spine on June 12th.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Saying "goodbye" - this chapter in the Story ends

Over the course of the last week I have finally filled in details and added pictures to the posts for the week of Sept. 28 to Oct. 4th, Tesfaye's last week in Vancouver, and have done the same for our three nights and days in New York, up until our saying "goodbye" on October 7th. If you have not yet read those postings, please do and you will see that Tesfaye, Nanci and I shared some wonderful experiences over that period of time, sadly knowing that the time we would have to say goodbye, at least for now, was fast approaching. Below is a recounting of our parting moment, and a brief outline of some related aspects of our subsequent time in Israel:

Wednesday afternoon, October 7th, 2009: "Au revoir", not "goodbye"
We made it back to Chloe's place after our morning errands but had to wait a few minutes for Chloe to arrive, and by then we had no time for any long goodbyes as to be safe we should have already been on our way to the airport. As it turns out, that was probably easier for both Tesfaye and us. Although it was an emotional farewell, it felt like less of a final goodbye than a French "au revoir" - a goodbye until we see each other again in the not too distant future; Nanci and I also felt grateful that we had the opportunity to spend so much special time with Tesfaye (and Azmera) in New York, knowing in the back of our minds that this time was coming. After our goodbye hugs and parting words, Nanci and I rushed back to our hotel, checked out, and jumped into a cab to Newark Airport New Jersey. It was our lucky day and we did not encounter any traffic snags, so we made it with time to spare (a rare occurrence for me).

October 8th to 21st, 2009: Spine research and Israel - Nanci and I had a great time in Israel, amongst other things: seeing a lot of friends including Jerus, the Israeli Ethiopian law student houseguest that stayed with us for a month until Sept. 15th (see blog postings from that period), our friend Micha Feldman

(a remarkable man and great friend to the Israeli Ethiopian community), and Netzanet, a lovely young orphaned Ethiopian woman that came into our lives through Micha; relaxing and experiencing the wonderful restaurants, "bauhaus" architecture and nightlife of Tel Aviv ( the "city that never sleeps"), which is celebrating its

100th anniversary this year; and spending a few days immersed in the unique historical and spiritual atmosphere of Jerusalem. In addition to having fun and conducting a bit of business, Nanci and I participated in a couple of days of Hebrew University (my second year alma mater) activities that in a way tied in with our experience with Tesfaye. At the inivitation of Hebrew University, a small group of people from Vancouver came to explore and further joint research initiatives planned between Hebrew U and VGH, UBC and Rick Hansen's Foundation. Part of our small group included Dr. Marcel Dvorak (who headed the VGH spine team that operated on Tesfaye), Stephen Owen (former Member of Parliament and current VP of UBC), and Rick Hansen (making his first return to Israel since his famous Man in Motion tour around the world in his wheelchair in the mid 1980's).

Amongst other things, we received presentations from Hebrew U/ Hadassah Hospital researchers and Doctors about interesting research and studies being conducted by them about spinal cord issues, and attended an Israeli parliament committee meeting on children with disabilities and related accessiblity issues in Israel. It was a very busy few days for everyone, but also very stimulating and enjoyable; the amount of research coming out of an institution the size of Hebrew U is rather remarkable. It was also very nice getting to know our fellow group members better.

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Tesfaye's Life History

Tesfaye's path through life and mine have been very different, but fate has caused them to intersect. I met Tesfaye and learned of his plight while in Addis Ababa in March 2008 as a result of getting to know Dr. Rick Hodes and seeing first-hand the extraordinary humanitarian work he has been performing in Ethiopia since the mid 1980's.

Here is Tesfaye's story:

Tesfaye was born in the Gojjam region of Ethiopia to farmer parents.He grew up in a one-room, thatched roof, mud hut, which he shared with parents, four brothers and one sister. His mother and father farmed grains, mostly teff and barley. About nine years ago Tesfaye's father died, leaving his mother to farm and care for the five children herself.

Several years after his father's death Tesfaye decided to come to Addis Ababa with his oldest brother to seek medical care for his misshapen spine. His back problem began when he was eight years old, a result of untreated spinal tuberculosis. Growing up, his family took him to the local healer who blessed him with curative Holy Water, but the pain and deformity did not improve. By the time he was a teenager the pain was so acute that he decided to leave his village and travel to Addis Ababa in hope of treatment. Tesfaye traveled three days by bus with his brother, neither of whom spoke any Amharic, the national language and dominant language in the capital city. Tesfaye and his family are from the Agaw tribe, a small population in the north of the country that speaks their own language, known as Agaw.

They arrived at the bus station in the large market area, the Mercato, and went immediately to Black Lion Hospital, where the hospital staff told him they could not treat him, promptly sending him and his brother away. Talking to some street children Tesfaye and his brother heard that the Alert Leprosy Hospital may be able to help him. They went eagerly, but were turned away for a second time. The brothers rented a small room for 1 birr per day, about 0.10 USD and stayed in the capital hoping for a miracle.

One day a woman stopped them on the street and asked Tesfaye what was wrong with his back. He told her that he had no idea but that he was in a lot of pain and was trying to find treatment but no one was helping. She told him that the Mother Theresa Mission may be able to help him and described directions to the mission. Tesfaye went to the mission early the next morning and the nuns admitted him swiftly and without hesitation. For two months Tesfaye lived at the mission where he received tuberculosis treatment. After two months he was discharged from the mission but returned each day for the next six months to complete his eight-month TB treatment.

After leaving the mission Tesfaye shared a room with his brother who had begun work as a day laborer in order to stay in Addis with Tesfaye. To contribute to his brother's earnings Tesfaye began pushing around a wheel-barrow filled with various novelty items, such as BIC pens, Kleenex travel packs, sunglasses and chewing gum. He peddled-almost literally-his wares around the large market place earning between 5-10 birr per day, about 0.50-1.00 USD.

Several months later Tesfaye contracted scabies, likely a result of squalid living conditions, and went to the mission to ask the nuns for treatment. He was given the proper medication and was on his way out of the compound when another nun stopped him and asked him if he knew a Dr. Rick. Tesfaye replied that he did not know any doctors, especially not a faranje-or white-one. The sister told him to return the following Saturday to meet Dr. Rick, who, she explained, helped Ethiopians with bad spines. Tesfaye came early Saturday morning and waited patiently for his turn to meet with Dr. Rick, during his usual Saturday morning clinic. Dr. Rick not only accepted Tesfaye as a spine patient but later invited him to live in his home and send him to school.

In late 2006, Tesfaye traveled to Ghana with a group of eight other spine patients to be examined by renowned Ghanian surgeon Dr. Oheneba Boachie. Dr.

Boachie felt that Tesfaye was operable, and asked him to return in 6 months. On return, he was not operated due to lack of a ventilator. On a third trip, the Ghanian anesthesiologists would not anesthetize Tesfaye, and surgery was not performed. Dr. Boachie's FOCOS staff was highly impressed with Tesfaye's attitude, and the help he constantly gave to the other Ethiopian spine patients. Disheartened, he gave up and resigned himself to the fate of living his life with a back shaped like a Brontosaurus or Quasimodo.

In the world of Rick's house, Tesfaye is everyone's favorite person, if he were to run for office, it most certainly be a landslide victory. Tesfaye is kind, patient and helpful. He is always doing his homework or helping the younger children with theirs. In anticipation of his trip to Canada Tesfaye has been diligently attending English class four days a week to supplement his 5th grade curriculum. I asked Tesfaye what he is most excited and nervous about for his trip. He answered that he is most nervous about people making fun of his back and that he is most excited about being with people who show him love.

Last fall I took a social history of each of the children living in Rick's house, Tesfaye politely told me, "I do not want to talk about my history until I know what the ending will be, I still hope thanks to God, and Dr. Rick, that my back may be healed." Now, we pray, that time has come, and so, Tesfaye has shared his story with me. We all look forward to discovering the end of the story. I know he will live happily ever after.

by Chloe Malle

Note: Over the period 2008/2009 Chloe spent a year living in Ethiopia helping Dr. Rick Hodes carry out his work. Chloe was recently featured in the January 2010 issue of Vanity Fair:Chloe Malle, Bright Young Thing Entertainment & Culture: vanityfair.com

Donations in support of Dr. Rick Hode's humanitarian work in Ethiopia

Donations to support Dr. Rick Hodes’ humanitarian work in Ethiopia (which are eligible for a Canadian donation tax receipt) can be directed to:

Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver
200-950 West 41st Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 2N7
Tel.604-257-5100

Instructions should be provided with payment to direct the donation to support the JDC/Dr.Rick Hodes humanitarian relief efforts in Ethiopia. 100% of the funds so directed go to Ethiopia to support those efforts.

JDC (American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee) is an international relief agency which provides non-sectarian relief to Jews and non-Jews in more than 60 countries around the world, and which has been active in Ethiopia for several decades. http://www.jdc.org

Tesfaye's Story: A Journey of Hope

Friday, October 30, 2009

Saying "goodbye" - this chapter in the Story ends

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Tesfaye in Vancouver pre-surgery

Tesfaye,Gary and Stephi on Granville Island

PRE-SURGERY DAYS IN VANCOUVER

Tesfaye with Haley eating Japanese sushi and using chopsticks for first time